Greetings~ I know that Mincer is hot on the STK-S4 hum-free Strat p/u for that authentic Strat sound in a Noiseless.. But for the Bridge, what would be the next step up in output, albeit maybe a tad darker or bolder & rounder, but still in Strat territory, & in an Alnico 5 or 4, but not so 'soft' as an Alnico 2... Many thanks....ॐ
Mincer & All...
- Thread starter zozoe
- Start date
Artie
Peaveyologist
I love the STK series also. Noiseless, and 99% Strat single-coil tone. I used STK-4's in the N/M and an STK-9 in the bridge. The 9 balances well, and doesn't have the "ice-pick-iness" that Strat and Tele bridge pups often have. The STK-9 probably deviates the most from "true" Strat bridge tone, but in a good direction.
I'd still like to try the STK-6 in the bridge, but the 4's are here to stay.
The only pups I have that rival the STK's, is the Livewire Classic II single set. Twin sons of different mothers. So close in sound that I may have to choose which one to keep. As I get older, I don't really need two Strats with the almost same sound.
I'd still like to try the STK-6 in the bridge, but the 4's are here to stay.
The only pups I have that rival the STK's, is the Livewire Classic II single set. Twin sons of different mothers. So close in sound that I may have to choose which one to keep. As I get older, I don't really need two Strats with the almost same sound.
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My guess is the Vintage Hot Stack Plus. It still sounds very Stratty, but has just a little more output than the STK-S4.
thats my favorite stk set. stks4n, stks4m, stks7 bridge. its not much higher output than the stks4b but its darker and bit thicker. still sounds very stratty but i think it balances much better. the stks6 is the next step up with more output and thicker tone. the stks9 is a great lead pup but is pretty far from a typical strat tone
Artie
Peaveyologist
You're making me question my memory. I've always had it in the back of my head, that I had an STK-6. But the box says STK-9b. I wonder if I bought this used, in the Trading Post, and someone just put the 6/7 in a 9 box? :scratchch
I'm a little under the weather right now, so I'll have to do a visual check later.
i have a stks9 and i like it a lot but as someone who is used to a vintage strat pup its much higher output and way more middy, which is a good thing for many people. the stks7 is still pretty vintage stratty just a little fatter and not as sharp on the top. no one will mistake it for anything but a strat bridge pup though. i really like all the stack plus series pups
Artie
Peaveyologist
I wish Duncan would update the site. Only the "4" & "6" list the model number. I have the "9" box, so by process of elimination, I can figure out that the Vintage Hot Stack Plus is the "7". Also, the DCR numbers on the STK-4 series are messed up. If you look at each individual pup, they list as: N/M/B - 8.7k/8.6k/8.5k. (I didn't get that backwards. That's how they're listed.) Then, if you select "set", they all list as 8.5k, but the "details" says that the bridge is wound hotter.
So, they break down like this:
Plus Series (All the "Plus" series are A5 mags.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STK-4: Classic Stack Plus N/M/B = 8.7k/8.6k/8.5k (Set = 8.5k)
STK-6: Custom Stack Plus N/M/B = 14.5k
STK-7: Vintage Hot Stack Plus N/M/B = 11.9k
STK-9: Hot Stack Plus Bridge = 20.3k
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Other
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Stack Strat: N/M = 13k, B = 19.9k Cer
YJM Fury Strat: N/M/B = 25.5k/25.5k/25.7k A5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It's also odd that some list "set", while others list "neck/middle/bridge."
So, they break down like this:
Plus Series (All the "Plus" series are A5 mags.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STK-4: Classic Stack Plus N/M/B = 8.7k/8.6k/8.5k (Set = 8.5k)
STK-6: Custom Stack Plus N/M/B = 14.5k
STK-7: Vintage Hot Stack Plus N/M/B = 11.9k
STK-9: Hot Stack Plus Bridge = 20.3k
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Other
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Stack Strat: N/M = 13k, B = 19.9k Cer
YJM Fury Strat: N/M/B = 25.5k/25.5k/25.7k A5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It's also odd that some list "set", while others list "neck/middle/bridge."
Yeah, the lack of model names and the questionable search results need to be looked at.
Artie
Peaveyologist
I wonder if we should have a sticky to report missing info, as we do to report diagrams with errors.
He ain't got nuthin' on me!
Not on that shred stick he sure don't.
Hard to play a m7b5 chords with those gloves on.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I made an Excel sheet off of the web site back when they had a table with everything online, including DCR and resonant peaks. (I think it used to be located at this URL) It has most everything, but a couple pickups introduced in recent years might not be there. If the forum supported tables, I could put it up, just to start, and others can edit/make corrections. Or use the archive.org Wayback Machine to find it?
donaldr
Well-known member
^ This^
The STK-S7 is the the perfect sound continuity in the bridge from the STK-S4 neck/middle.
I have a STK-S4/STK-S7 set in a swamp ash ESP/LTD ST-213 strat copy and it's there to stay. I had the set in an alder Fender Strat but I didn't like it as much as in the ESP/LTD.
I'd love the have a true single-coils STK-S7 equivalent.
alex1fly
Well-known member
A humbucker could do the trick.
Or if you have traditional Strat wiring consider dialing in the darkness with your bridge-only tone pot and raising the pickup a bit.
